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"What is this, brothers?" he exclaimed. "Is this how the Dacotahs treat the stranger in their tents?" "They are witches, not men!" came from many throats, and Thunder-maker added "They call me from teepee call me without words, and fill Thunder-maker with hot fire!" "Bah!" ejaculated Swift Arrow with utter contempt, as he turned to the last speaker. "Is not Thunder-maker great medicine himself?
Has he no weapon to protect himself from magic?" But the Medicine Man had his reply ready. "Thunder-maker sleep. When Thunder-maker sleep he have no power against magic." Then he turned to the surrounding Indians with a wild appeal. "Shall it be, brothers, that the great medicine of the Dacotahs die before arrows of the evil spirits?" "Kawin!
They great spirits sent to you by Manito to tell you how to be a mighty tribe again. Then great medicine will be done, and Thunder-maker will ask the pale-faces to speak what Manito has told them. "Then the pale-faces will tell the Dacotahs: 'Slay Mighty Hand!
But to keep on slaving till you're worked out that's nothing but a gowk's game, and can bring no good." "I suppose you are right," said Holden slowly. "Of course I am. Don't you fear, laddie. I'll no' be too late. I know the ways o' the Indian, and I know the Dacotahs. Depend upon it, your faithers are being kindly treated, as best the redskins know how to treat friends.
"It's certainly mysterious," said Holden. "Perhaps we have arrived in the middle of some sacred feast. Or perhaps we've come upon them when they were about to carry out some form of lawlessness." Arnold shook his head decidedly. "No. There are no signs of feasts. As for the latter, these are Dacotahs one of the most law-abiding tribes. We'll have to look further than that for an explanation.
I have no fancy again to run the risk of being scalped or roasted, or having to lie down and die by myself like a worn-out old wolf, or other wild beast in the desert." The Raggets and I expressed our satisfaction at the thoughts of having so experienced a hunter as our companion, and that matter was settled off-hand. The Dacotahs had retired when they saw the Pawnees drawing off.
It might be to our advantage later to know without being known." "Quite right," answered the elder man. Then he addressed the Indian again. "We would ask, O Swift Arrow, for what good purpose your braves have bound us. We have been in peril from the waters; we seek the friendship of your land. Is this the way the Dacotahs treat their white brothers when they seek the friendship of your shores?"
While we were waiting the arrival of the stranger, a piercing shriek broke the silence of night. "Those vermin the Dacotahs are upon us again, and have taken the scalp of one of our scouts," cried Obed, when he heard that piercing shriek. My experience of the previous night taught me too well also what it meant.
The Dacotahs retired to a short distance, and held a consultation, after which they galloped round and round us, shrieking and shouting, when one of them advanced somewhat nearer, and, in a derisive tone, told us that we were welcome to remain where we were, for escape was impossible, as they intended to keep near us, and that in a short time we should be starved to death, when they would have our scalps, and take possession of our goods.
Dacotahs fools, Dacotahs believe foolish stories, and Thunder-maker can lead their feet by what trail he will." "H'm. That was plain enough this afternoon when you played with those rattlesnakes," remarked Arnold, at which the Indian laughed quietly. "Dacotahs fools. But white men wise. They see not with the eyes of redmen.
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